Mouth-protector.



T. W. BROWN.

MOUTH PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN-16. 1919.

Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

LEI

- of the lips by reason of the 'jaws or adjacent parts of the face.

accompanying drawing,

character shaped resilientbody, the upper and lower rnonns BROWN, OF CHICA, ILLINQIIS.

I noUrH-rno'rnoron.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. BROWN,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident Cook county, and State of Illiof Chicago, nois, have mvented certam new and useful Improvements in 'Mouth-Protectors, of

be a full,

which the following is declared to clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to mouth protectors, and its principal object is to provide cushioning means for lips and other parts of the mouths of boxers, pugilists and the like,

from blows upon the well own, there is a tendency for boxers especially amateurs, while boxing or spar-- rmg, to slightly open their mouths or at least they frequently neglect to tightly close down their teeth, the result being that a blow upon the lower jaw will have the effect of forcibly bringing them together, some times breaking ofi some of the teeth, and also roducing jars that are transmitted to the ead above the mouth. Again, hard punches on the lips cause laceratlons on the inside sharp forcible contact with the teeth. With the present device in place, all of said injurious results from blows upon the mouth or jaws are practically eliminated. The'invention consists in a resilient pad orcushioning member, adapted to be gripped between the'teeth of the user and having webs extending up and down alon user, thus protecting (when held in place), the teeth, lips and other parts of the mouth of blows on the face at places adjacent the mouth. 'lhe'invention further'consists in the other novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mouth protector embodying asimple form of the present invention, shown in place in the mouth of a user; Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through the device, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device.

Referring to said drawing, the reference 4:, designates .a substantially U- Specification of Letters Patent.

protecting the teeth,

As is.

v the outer edge portion and .adapted to be interposed between the-teeth and lips of the the user against hard,

.by th Patented new. as, rare.

Application filed January 16, me. sen alno. 271,453.

faces of which may be flat, and, if desired, formed with depressions 5, to receive the cusps of the teeth of the user. At the front or bend of the body 4, is a web 6, which projects up and down, as at 7, 8, from the front edge portion. The upper and lower edges of the web 6, merge into the top and bottom of the body portion as shown. The edge portions of the web down, and the marginal edges are made smooth to avoid irritation.

It may be found desirable to provide an insert 9, in the body portion to reinforce the same and prevent the user from biting through the device. Such insert is made of tough material, such as leather, fiber or the like and is embedded in the device before vulcanization. The material, of which the device is made, may comprise rubber or other resilient compositions capable of being molded into proper form.

In practice the protectors may be formed of several sizes and shapes to fit the average mouths, but for the more perfect and expensive protectors it is preferable to take a cast of the users teeth and from it produce a protector that more nearlyconforms to the shape of the mouth and teeth In this case the indentations will match up with the teeth and greater comfort is thereby obtained. In any case the U-shaped body should be wide enough to project beyond the sides of the teeth and contact with the insides of the lips and cheeks of the user.

Imuse the protector is inserted between the teeth, and the teeth closed down upon the body portion; with the web extending between the lips and teeth. It is obvious that upward blows. upon thelower jaw will be transmitted to the upper jaw, but nevertheless, through the protecting, resilient pad or body, 4, which cushions the blow and revents the teeth from being broken. Likewise blows on the cheeks will be cushioned by the projecting edge portions of the pad, and much of the force of blows on the front of the mouth will be absorbed and cushioned e Web 6, consequently, the danger of cutting or lacerating the lips will be reduced to a minimum.

More or less variations of the exact details of construction is ossible without departing from the spirit 0 this invention; I desire,

therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the followin claims, to point out all of the invention r lisclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A mouth protector of the character described, comprising a substantially U-shaped, resilient body portion, forming the entire Ubend and adapted to be gripped between the teeth of the user, and having a web portion along its forward edge; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A. mouth protector of the character described, comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient body portion, forming the entire U-bend and adapted to be gripped between the teeth of the user and having an integrally formed web extending up and down from its forward edge; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A mouth protector of the character described, comprising a resilient pad, adapted to be gripped between the teeth of the user and formed with a web at its forward edge, arranged to extend between the lips and teeth of the user, and a stripv of. stout mate-' rial embedded in said pad; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. -A mouth protector of the character .described, comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient body portion formed with tooth indentations in its upper and lower faces and adapted to be gripped between the teeth of the user, and having a web portion along its forward edge; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS w. BROWN. 

